Piano-player.



, M. NEWCOMER.

I PIANO PLAYER. APPLICATION I ILED MAY 4, 1912.

1,087,176, Patented Feb. 17,1914.

Z% Br I I 2235; I

M. NEWOOMER.

PIANO PLAYER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY '4, 1912.

1,087,176, Patented Feb. 17, 1914,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' INVENTOR I WITNESSES PATENT OFFICE.

IMIAB'IIN NEWCOMER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PIANO-PLAYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed May 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,100.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN NEWCOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough f Manhattan of the city of New York, in the county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano Players, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

This invention relates to pneumatic piano players and player pianos in which provision is made for giving prominence to the melody or theme. I11 one such player the theme or melody is given prominence by permitting the hammers by which the .melody tones are produced, to have a maxi mum throw while thethrow of the hammers hammers, except those which ment, that is,

of the devices which :by which the accompaniment tones are produced is modified, a series of small bellows, severally under the control of the performer, carrying each a section of a sectional rest rail, by which the throw of the hammers is determined atthe will of the erformer, all of such bellows being mounted upon a movable bar so that all of the bellows may be moved together to limit the throw of the are permitted by the individual action of the bellows to have their full throw. -Such an arrangean arrangement in which the whole series of small bellows are mounted upon a movable bar, is not altogether satisfactory and itisthe object of this invention to provide means by which the action produce the accompaniment tones may be modified without requiring the several bellows to be mounted upon a movable bar or to be movable as a series, while the devices which produce the theme or melody tones are permitted to have their normal action under the control of selective devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide 1 compensating device which will automatically modify the action of the devices which produce the accompaniment tones when the vacuum is increased by hard V pumping, so that the performer can control,

by pumping, the accent or expression of the theme or melody without increasing unduly the strength of accompaniment tones.

In the embodiment of the invention illus trated in the drawings the several bellows which carry the sections of the hammer rest rail are mounted upon a fixed. bar or in fixed relation to the hammers and are so arranged that when anyone of the bellows is collapsed the section of the rest rail which is actuated by it is moved so as to permit the corresponding group of hammers to have their full throw and selective means are provided whereby. any of such bellows can be collapsed pneumatically at the will of the performer, while independent means are provided for collapsing mechanically 'and to any degree all of the bellows which are not collapsed pneumatically; furthermore, in the construction shown, the compensating device comprises pneumatic actuating means connected directly with the main reservoir or bellows and adapted also to be controlled by hand, such actuating means being operatively connected with the mechanical de vices which are adapted to collapse more or less the several bellows, but it will be evident that an automatic compensating device of the same general character might act through other means and independently of the manually controlled devices for regulating the throw of the hammers which produce the accompaniment tones.

The invention will be more fully explained hereinafter with reference to the accoms panying drawings in which it is illustrated and in which Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of so much of the mechanism of a player as is necessary to enable the invention to be understood. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in front elevation.

The tone producing devices or hammers a are shown as pivoted upon a. supporting bar 6 in suitable devices d which may perforated music sheet, players. In suitable relation to the hammers and strings is a fixed bar 6 upon which are mounted series of bellows f, each of which is adapted to control the throw of a group of the hammers a, each grou being shown in this case as comprising t ree hammers; Each bellows may be expanded in the usual manner, as by a spring f and each is connected b a, tube f with the vacuum system of t is player through a selective controlling valve indicated at g, whereby each bellows can be collapsed at the will of the performer. To themovable member f of each bellows is secured an arm f which carbe controlled by a relation to the strings c and as, adapt-ed to be actuated by suitable actuating all as usual in jpiano ries a section f of the sectional rest rail against which the hammers rest in their inactive positions. As each bellows f is collapsed the corresponding section f of the sectional rest rail is moved away from the strings and permits the corresponding hammers to have their full throw for the purpose of producing tones of maximum intensity in proportion to the strength of the vacuum. As each bellows is expanded the corresponding section f of the rest rail moves toward the strings and therefore restricts the throw of the corresponding hammers and reduces the strength of the tones produced. Normally, it will be understood, all of the bellows are expanded and all of the tones. are subdued, but as each bellows is collapsed, at the will of the performerg-the corresponding hammers have their full throw of a greater throw and prominence is thereby given to the tones produced thereby.

In order that the strength of accompaniment tones or of all tones, as the composition to be performed may require, may be increased above the pianissimo effect produced when the bellows f are fully expanded, means are provided for collapsing more or less the bellows f which are not collapsed by the thematic or melodic devices already described. For this purpose, in the construction shown, a bar It is arranged in proximity to the movable members f of all of the bellows f, and is arranged to be moved toward the bellows so as to collapse the bellows more or less and therefore to increase more or less the throw of all of the hammers and the strength of the tones. The bar h is shown as carried by arms h of a. rock shaft 7L2, while another arm h is operatively connected through suitable intermediate devices with a handle it which is suitably placed for manual operation. The bar it might'be subject to manual control only and be directly connected to the manually operated handle, but in the arrangement shown it is subject to an automatic compensating device which, for convenience, acts through the same connections as the handle and in fact forms a part of such connections, as will now be described.

As shown, the arm it is connected by a link it with one arm of the bell crank lever if. The other arm of .the bell crank lever 7r is-connected by a link it withthe relatively movable member m of bellows m. which is itself hinged as at m and has its base member m connected to the handle Zr, so

i that the bellows forms a variable member in the connection between the handle it and the rod h. A bracket m mounted on the base member m of the bellows forms a of the bellows. The bellows is connected pneumatically, as by a pipe m with the main reservoir and bellows indicated-gem erally at n. The spring on is sulliciently stilf to hold the bellows m expanded fully when the bellows as a whole is moved by a handle 76, so that the bar h may be moved to collapse the several bellows f but it yields suliicicntly when the vacuum is considerably increased, by hard pumping, so as to permit the bellows m to collapse more or less and thereby to move the bar it more or less away from the bellows f and permit the same to be expanded so as to move the rest rail sec tions toward the strings and so restrict the throw of the hammers and thus compensate for the greater energy with which the hammers would otherwise be moved toward the strings by the increased vacuum. In this manner it is possible for the skilful performer, by pumping, to accent or to gi\'e more prominence to the theme or melody without equally increasing the strength of the accompaniment tones.

It will be obvious that the con'ipcnsating device might be used without the manual controlling device, that the manual controlling device might be used without the compensating device, and that the compensating device might be used with other thematic or melodic and accompaniment controlling devices than those shown and described herein. It will also be obvious that'various changes in details of construction'aml arrangement might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation to the hammers, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the movable members of the several bellows respectively, pneumatic means to actuate one or another of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers, and independent means to actuate all of the bellows not ac tuated by said pneumatic means to vary the throw of the remaining hammers.

2. In a piano player, the combinatloi'i of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation to the hammers, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the mov= able members of the several bellows respectively, pneumatic means to actuate one or another of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers, and mechanical devices to actuate all of the bellows notactuated by said pneumatic means to vary the throw of the remaining hammers.

3. In a ,piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mountcdin fixed relation to the hammers, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the movable members of the several bellows respectively, means acting normally to expand said bellows, selective devices whereby any of 5 said bellows may be connected to the vacuum system and "be collapsed, and independent means to collapse more or less all of the bellows not collapsed through the action of said selective devices. a

4. In a piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mount ed in fixed relation to the hammers,'a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the ,movable members of the several bellows respectively, means acting normallyto expand said bel- .lows, selective devices whereby any of said bellows may be connected to the vacuum system and be collapsed, and mechanical devices to collapse more or' less all of the bellows not collapsed through the action of said selective devices.

5. In a piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation to the hammers, sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the movable members of the several bellows respectively, means acting normally to expand said bellows, selective devices whereby any 'of said bellows may be connected to the vacuum system and be collapsed, a bar in operative relation with the movable members of all of the bellows, and means to move said bar to collapse the bellows. 4

6. In a piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation to the hammers, arms secured to the movable members of the hammers, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are carried by said arms respectively, neumatic means to actuate one or another of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers and independent means to actuate all of the bellows not actuated by said pneumatic the throw of the remaining 7. In a piano player, the combination of a series of hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation tothe. hammers, arms securedto the movable members of the hammers", a sectional rest rail, the several sections respectively, pneumatic means to actuate one or another of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers, andindependcut-mechanical devicesto actuate all of the bellows not actuated by said pnuematic means to vary the throw of the remaining hammers.

hammers.

8. In a piano player, the combination of a series of ammers, a series of bellows mounted infixed relation to the hammers, arms secured to the mdwable members of the 5 bellows, a sectional rest 'pailfthe several sec means to vary of which are carried by said armst-ions ofwhich are carried by said arms respectively, means acting normally to expand said bellows, selective devices whereby any of said bellows may. be connected to the vacuum system and. be collapsed, and independent mechanical devices to collapse the bellows not collapsed through the action or said selective devices.

9. In a piano player, the combination of a seriesof hammers, a series of bellows mounted in fixed relation to the hammers, arms secured to the movable members of the bellows, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are carried by saidarms respectively, means acting normally to expand said bellows, selective devices whereby any of said bellows may be connected to the vacuum system and be collapsed, a bar in operative relation to the movable members of said bellows, and manually controlled devices for moving said bar to collapse more or less the bellows not, collapsed through the action of said selective devices.

10. In a neumatic bination 0% a main reservoir, player pneumatics, hammers actuated thereby, bellows and connections to vary the throw of the hammers, mechanical devices to restrict the movement of said bellows, and a compensating device operated by air pressure and connected to the main reservoir to vary the action of said mechanical devices.

11. In a iano player. pneumatic, the combination 05 a main reservoir, player pneuniatics, hammers actuated thereby, a series of bellows, a sectional rest rail, the several sections of which are operatively connected to the movable members oi. the several bellows respectivel pneumatic means to actuate one or anot er of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers, independent means. to actuate all'of the bel lows not actuated by said pneumatic means to vary the throw of the remaining hammers, and a compensating device operated by air pressure and connected to the main reservoir to vary the action of said independent means.

12. In a neumatic piano player, the com bination of a main reservoir, player pneumatics, hammers actuated thereby, a series of bellows, a sectional rest rail the several sections of which are operatively connected to the movable members of the several bellows respectivel pneumatic means to actuate one or anot er of said bellows to vary the range of movement of the hammers, mechanical devices to actuate all of the bellows not actuated by said pneumatic means to vary the throw of the remaining hammers, a handle, and connections between said handle and said mechanical devices, said connections including a bellows connected to said main reservoir.

13. In a piano player, the combination of piano player, the coma bellows,'pneun1atic devices to collapse the eluding a hinged bellows connected to the 15 same, a bar in operative relation to the bellows to collapsethe same independently of the pneumatic devices,,a handle, and connect-ions between the handle and said bar, said connections including a bellows connected to the vacuum system.

14. In a pneumatic piano player, the combination of a bellows, pneumatic devices to collapse the same, mechanical devices to collapse said bellows independently of the pneumatic devices, a handle, link and lever connections between said handle and said mechanical devices, said connections in- Copiescf this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batentu,

vacuum system, the base member of the bellows being connected to said handle and the relatively movable member of the bellows .Leing connected to said mechanical devices throughsaid link and lever connections, and a spring acting normally to expand said bellows.

This specification signed and witnessed this 1st day of May, A. D. 1912.

MARTIN NEVVCOMER. Signed in the presence of KATHERINE NORTON,

W'ORTHIN GTON CAMPnm L.

Washington, D. G. 

